Which way do you setup your lines?

[Art of Simulation]

Hi all,

I am curious about how you all setup your lines (bus, train and cargo). I know how to setup lines technically but I'm curious about which method for setting up the lines you are following.

Example for a train line:

A>B>C>B>A

Or:

A>B>C>A>B>C (circular route)

For busses I mainly setup a line from one big bus station from City 1, followed by the small bus stops between the towns and in the last city 3 setup the end of the line on the bus station there. From there follow all the same small bus stops back to the bus station in the direction back to city 1. Because when I would stop the line on city 3, the bus would drive back to city 1 without stopping on other bus stops (would be inefficient).

Which way do you setup your lines, and in what order are they following the stops/stations? Why did you choose to do it that way and what's your experience with it (more money, more population etc.)?

If you have any videos or screenshots how you or other are setting up lines let me know.

Thanks :)

[mschol]

if its a full loop: A>B>C>D>A (if the loop gets big, in case of passengers i would add Clockwise and anti-Clockwise
if its a line were you have to passthrough previous stations: A>B>C>D>C>B>A

[TheLostPenguin]

Generally I use linear reciprocating layouts, so A→B→C→B→A, although I have at times used circular routes for busses/trams in towns when the layout of the town and my train station was favourable for doing so. Such systems can be a little fiddlier to balance in terms of vehicles though, and sometimes I've ended up ditching say the counter clockwise route in favour of the clockwise one or vice versa, because the demand was overwhelmingly in favour of that direction of travel.

[Gorby]

It seems like you've got it figured out really, and like @mschol said if it's a loop/circular route I always make a clockwise and counter-clockwise line for each loop.

[genemead]

You forgot A-B, B-C, C-D, etc. (point-to-point).
I get that people LOVE long, multi-stop lines, but for me, point-to-point is better.

[mongolteiko]

You could do a main line residential to train station with a shared stop [transfer] in the middle, then another line from there to industry and one to commercial [for jobs/shopping etc.] for buses/trams.

For trains, you could do a 'stopping' service [stops at all stations on route] and an express service [stops at major stations/towns].

And/or the above ideas.